Garment-stiffener.



Patented Nov. 28, I899,

A. P. McGRAW, GARMENT STIFFENER.

(Application filed July 5, 1899.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES W/NVENTOR 6 a a Q7 1, Q

%\L A ttarney YHE NORRI$ PETERS CO. FNOYO-LIVTHO WASHINOTON. D, (L

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT P. MOGRAW, or McenAw, NEW YORK.

GARM ENT-STIFFEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,995, dated November 28, 1899. Application filed July 5,1899. $erial No. 722,888. (No model.)

invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

My invention relates to stilfeners for garments, and is more particularly designed for use in connection with corsets, waists, or skirts.

The particular object of the invention is to provide a stifiener of the character described, which shall efficiently perform the functions of a st ifiener in the class of garments mentioned, but which shall nevertheless .be economical to manufacture.

With this object in View the invention consists of a stiffener composed of one or more thicknesses of fabric or paper folded, with as many turns or folds as may be found desirable, around a long strip of stifiening material and treated with a suitable size or stiffening cement and is flattened andthefolds thereof suitably secured to the stiffening material and to each other bya line of stitching or by cement. Preferably the fabric or paper strip is folded around a suitable filling of horsehair, sisal, or other similar filling,which filling may be, if desired, in the form of woven or other fabric.

I have illustrated the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my stiffeuers, showing the parts stitched together, except at one end, where it is opened out to show the filling material. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the stiffeners, the folds being secured together by cement instead of stitching. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one form of stiffening-strip. Fig. 4, is an enlarged end view of Fig. 1.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the views. 7

Referring to the drawings, A is a strip of suitable material of such width that when folded, as shown, and flattened out by pass ing through rolls or otherwise it will be of the width of the desired stiffener.

B B are strips of filling material, as horsehair or sisal. These strips may be, and preferably are, in the form of narrow strips of fabric out slightly narrower than the desired width of the finished stiffener. As shown in Fig. 1, two of such strips B are used; but any number of such strips as may be found desirable may be used, preferably in connection with a suitable sizing or cement to supply additional stiffness.

O is-a line of stitching passing through the folds of the envelop or folded strip A and also through the filling-strips B B when the same.

are used. Instead of this line of stitches I sometimes employ a suitable cement, as rubber cement, for example, to secure the folds smoothly in place.

In manufacturing my improved stifieners I cut continuous strips of the material A,which I pass through a folding-machine, where it is folded around the stifiening-strips B, after which pressure is applied by rolls or otherwise to produce the shape of an ordinary bone or corset-steel, after which it is stitched, if stitching is employed. If cement is used, as in the case shown in Fig. 2, such cement is preferably continuously applied as the strip A is in the act of being folded. The strip having been folded, flattened, and stitched or cemented is cut into any desired lengths ready for use.

It will be seen that by my invention a stiffener 'of any desired degree of stiffness and elasticity may be secured at a minimum cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is

A garment-stiffener consisting of folds of material inclosing a stiffening-strip, the overlapping edges of the folds and the stiffeningstrip being all secured together by a single line of stitching.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT P. MGGRAW. Witnesses:

LEE L. WELLMAN, Mrs. L..L. WELLMAN. 

